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QUOTES:

"It (being ambidextrous) was a tremendous asset and I owe that gift to Steve Faulkner, one of my coaches in a church league in Toronto when I was just a youngster. Steve showed me how to switch the stick from one hand to the other. It wasn't easy at first because I was so young and the stick seemed so heavy. But Steve kept after me and gradually the stick became lighter and I could switch it automatically. (Inside Sports: Hockey, 1997)

TRANSACTIONS:

Signed as free agent with Montreal Canadiens, October 30, 1943.

Forced to retire in the middle of the 1950 Stanley Cup playoffs due to frayed nerves, 1950.

Named head coach of Ottawa Senators (QMHL), September 13, 1950.

ACCOLADES:

Named to National Hockey League All-Star First Team, 1943-44.

Member of Stanley Cup-winning Montreal Canadiens, 1944.

Winner, Vezina Trophy, 1943-44.

Named to National Hockey League All-Star First Team, 1944-45.

Winner, Vezina Trophy, 1944-45.

Named to National Hockey League All-Star First Team, 1945-46.

Member of Stanley Cup-winning Montreal Canadiens, 1946.

Winner, Vezina Trophy, 1945-46.

Named to National Hockey League All-Star First Team, 1946-47.

Winner, Vezina Trophy, 1946-47.

Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1947.

Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1948.

Named to National Hockey League All-Star First Team, 1948-49.

Winner, Vezina Trophy, 1948-49.

Played in National Hockey League All-Star Game, 1949.

Named to National Hockey League All-Star First Team, 1949-50.

Winner, Vezina Trophy, 1949-50.

Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame, 1964.

RECORDS:

First goaltender to win Vezina Trophy four consecutive seasons, 1944-47.

Between February 26 and March 6, 1949, Bill set the modern National Hockey League record for longest shutout sequence (309 minutes, 21 seconds), recording four consecutive shutouts along the way. Durnan held the record until early 2004, when Phoenix's Brian Boucher eclipsed him.

NHL PENALTY SHOTS:

DATE

SHOOTER

GOAL?

NOTES

04/13/1944

Virgil Johnson

N

postseason

DID YOU KNOW?

With the 1943-44 Montreal Canadiens, Bill established a National Hockey League record for the longest unbeaten streak to start a career. The streak began with a 2-2 tie against the Bruins on October 30. Ultimately, Durnan would run his streak to 11-0-3 with an 8-2 win over Detroit. The next evening, the Canadiens fell in Boston, 5-4, to the Bruins.